Epsom Hospital has begun an urgent investigation after an operating theatre's window blinds were left open, meaning people could see surgery being carried out on a patient.

Bosses at Epsom and St Helier University Hospitals NHS Trust, which runs the Dorking Road site, apologised to the patient and took "immediate action" to ensure it would not happen again.

On Friday (January 10), a blind in an operating theatre window was not closed properly after cleaning and an operation taking place in the room could be seen by a "small number" of other patients, the hospital said.

It added: "We have contacted the patient affected to discuss this incident and have offered our full and sincere apologies that this occurred.

"However, as with any patient undergoing an operation, this patient would have been protected by a gown and sterilised drapes throughout the procedure.

"We have launched a full investigation into the matter and have taken immediate action to ensure this could not happen to any other patient.

"We would like to assure our patients and visitors that we take the privacy, dignity and confidentiality of our patients very seriously indeed."

'Thorough investigation'

The incident came to light after a member of the public alerted staff during a visit to Buckley Ward in the hospital's Wells Wing.

She contacted the hospital to report the incident and was referred to its Patient Advice and Liaison Service.

Dr Ruth Charlton, the trust's joint medical director, said: "We would like to assure our patients and visitors that we are taking this matter very seriously, and the thorough investigation we have launched is still under way.

"As such, we cannot offer any further information until all of the facts are fully established.

"This is the first time such an incident has ever been reported to us, and we are urgently investigating the allegations.

"Although it is rare, in any situation where we feel that a patient's privacy may have been compromised we will not hesitate to act, and will take immediate steps to help ensure that a similar event could not happen again.

"I have personally asked all five of our directorates (medicine, women and children's, regional services, clinical services and surgery, critical care and anaesthetics) to review every clinical area they are responsible for, in order to ensure that the privacy and dignity of every patient we treat is protected at all times."